Army chopper makes emergency landing at Portlock school

HAWAII KAI (HawaiiNewsNow) - An Army Blackhawk helicopter enroute to Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island was forced to make an emergency landing Monday at Koko Head Elementary School.

According to the Army, a warning light went on and the chopper landed at a sports field near Koko Head school. Army regulations require the crew to make a precautionary landing at the nearest safe area if this occurs. It landed at the school's baseball field at Portlock.

No injuries were reported.

The pilots made contact with the school principal to explain the landing, and volunteered to allow the children to come out and see an Army helicopter and ask the pilots questions.

After inspecting the chopper, the maintenance crew determined the helicopter was safe to continue to fly. After the students of Koko Head Elementary had a chance to look at the aircraft and ask the pilots questions, the chopper departed the area.

In making the appointment, the governor was weighing a short-term replacement against pressure from top Democrats in Washington to name someone who would run in 2018 in a special election to complete Franken's term ending in 2020.

In making the appointment, the governor was weighing a short-term replacement against pressure from top Democrats in Washington to name someone who would run in 2018 in a special election to complete Franken's term ending in 2020.